Aravinda

towards peace, justice and community

Category Archives: In Memoriam

Human rights defender and member of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties, Trupti was a woman who could be counted on in times of need. My direct interactions with her and Rohit were few, but I remember her as someone who was always there. When I came back from the Narmada Satyagraha in September 2002 and had a few hours in Baroda before catching the train back to Mumbai, she was there. “Do you want to talk to the press?” she asked. “Because they are continuously calling.” Rumors were afloat that 50 satyagrahis including Medha Patkar had been washed away and there was no news of their condition. No press had managed to cross the rising waters into the valley and I was the first to reach a city. I used her computer to send a photo to the press and it appeared on the cover of the Maharashtra Times the next morning and there was a press conference in Mumbai in the afternoon.

Like this she would have helped so many people in so many ways, over and above the work she did through her own organizations.

To think that she will be there no more is very difficult. We remembered her in a moment of silence at the AID conference in College Park, on May 28, 2016.

With a heavy heart we are sharing the news that Hansabehn Mazgaonkar passed away today. We were privileged to see her at home last week where she greeted all of us with her characteristically bright and overflowing smile in spite of weakness and failing health.

We feel very fortunate to have known her – someone who had met Gandhiji during the freedom struggle, served as a life-long Sarvodayi, war resister, community organizer, and one who spun and wore only khadi all her life, along with her family. She continued to work for the benefit of the community till the very end. Ten years ago, we had the good fortune to hear singઆ વિશ્વ અમારી શાળા (The whole world is our school).

Like Gandhiji, Hansa behn’s was no ordinary light and her selfless service and tremendous passion for truth and non-violence and simple living will contine to guide us.